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don’t,” replied Avery, walking over to the office.
     
    “How do we know he’s not spying for them? Dude hardly ever speaks, just watches us the whole time. Gives me the creeps.”
     
    Avery ignored that but knew he shouldn’t. This whole situation was getting away from him, but he also knew that if he did get into it with the crowd like this, he’d lose his shit. One-on-one, in the office, he could defuse their anger. Taking them all on at once, he’d probably make it worse. He’d always been the hothead brother, quicker with his fists than with his mouth.
     
    “Who said that?”
     
    Avery spun round and saw his brother leap up into the ring. A mixture or relief and shame hit him, and a part of him wanted to slink away into the office and wait there till the whole scene was over. He knew exactly what was coming.
     
    Sy Vargas unwisely spoke up again. “I did. I think it’s a fair question. This guy starts work here, and almost the next day one of our best fighters gets done for taking a dive. Is that coincidence? Or is he a fucking spy?”
     
    “Don’t be a dick, Sy,” replied Marlon. “This is the third time it’s happened. Or do you wanna blame the new guy for what happened before he got here as well?”
     
    “Keep talkin’. Y’all can’t see what’s happenin’. We’re being gutted from the inside out. I’m tellin’ you, we’re bein’ watched close. Those people got spies everywhere. Only this one’s so obviously a stiff y’all can’t see the wood for the trees.”
     
    “Where’s your proof?” asked Marlon.
     
    “How’s this for proof? If he stays, I go.”
     
    “Then get out!” yelled Luca, more angry than Avery had seen him in a long time. “Get your shit together and get the fuck out of here. Don’t come back. Ross has done nothing against any of you; he’s trying his best to help us out and I’m glad I hired him. Anyone who doesn’t like it—there’s the door. I don’t wanna hear any more of this paranoid shit. And the next person who says a wrong word against any employee of this gym will suck asphalt after I knock his fucking teeth out.”
     
    A deathly silence gripped the gym. The only sound was the distant clattering of locker doors—Sy Vargas’s temper tantrum in the locker room. Gino finally spoke up and said, “Jesus, Luca. We should put the gloves on you, man. I ain’t sparring with you, though.”
     
    “Very wise, muchacho. And the rest of you guys, just get back to what you were doing. Please. Come and see us one at a time if you feel the need, and we’ll go through any concerns you have. Okay, have at it.” Luca motioned for Ross and Avery to join him in the office. Once inside, he closed the door and said to Ross, “Sorry about that. It should never have gotten that far.” Then, he shot Avery a stinging glance and said, “I don’t think it’ll happen again. They know you have my full backing.”
     
    “What if it does happen again, when we’re not here?” asked Avery.
     
    “That won’t be for a while. There’ll be at least one of us here at all times until this situation gets resolved. And by the way, don’t ever let that happen again.”
     
    “What? You’re blaming me for that?” Avery knew he was protesting too much; he really should have stuck up for their new employee.
     
    “You said nothing, bro. You could have defused that situation before it got out of hand, but you said nothing.”
     
    “It’s okay. I can stick up for myself,” said Ross.
     
    “That’s the point. You shouldn’t have to,” replied Luca. “This is gonna be a difficult time for us, and we need to have each other’s backs.”
     
    “Why do they hate me? I can’t see what I’ve done wrong.”
     
    “They don’t know what to make of you,” said Luca. “Just give it time. Maybe put yourself out there a bit more, get to know them, interact. If you can talk to them the way you talk to me, they’ll be alright with you. And when you’re more